Shoe



Marsh 2G, i945. R. E. FREEMAN SHOE Filed Oct. `27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 20, 1.9.45 I

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE l `snloa Richard E. Freeman, Beloit, Wis.:assigner to Freeman Shoe Corporation, Beloit, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application october 27, 1943, serial No. 507,855

2 Claims.

v'laly directed to an improved shoe design and structure that willenable a wearer with substantially normal feet to avoid many footailments induced by the faulty design and structure of conventionalshoes.

Scientific study of the natural walking gait shows that the weight ofthe foot is first taken on the heel, then in rapidly rolling rotationfrom the small toe to the large toe along the outside of the foot ontothe ball of the foot when the large toe 4shoves the body forward in aleverlike action as the heel is again raised in the walking gait. Dr.Arthur Stelndlenprofessor of orthopedic surgery, University of Iowa,states the foot action as follows: In walking, the foot is placed on theground heel first: it then rolls over the outer border until` thecontact reaches the ball of thefoot."

This usage of the foot is better understood upon considering the problemof balance in walking. It will be appreciated that one foot is takingthe support of the body from the time the heel contacts the ground untilthe large toe leaves the ground, when the weight is shifted to the otherfoot. in walking motion is best accomplished by the rolling over theouter border of the foot" as fully described and discussed by Dr.Steindler in his treatise Mechanics of Normal and PathologicalLocomotion in Man.

When the foot functions in this normal and natural manner, the tendonsand musclessupporting the bone structure of the foot are utilized ineffective coacting relationship to produce the almost effortless walkinggait of the American Indian and other barefoot aborigines. Further it isworthy of note .that such natural foot action induces a slightly toeingin stride so typical of the Indians.l

Much attention/,and'study has been given the intricate bone structure ofthe foot with its longitudinal and transverse arches. This intricatebone structure is dependent upon interconnected tendons and 4muscles toprotect and keep these bones in proper functional relationship. Fallenarches are not due to bone failures per se: the

failure of the tendons and muscles supporting the arches cause the archto fail. One authority aptly states the case: The integrity and form ofthe foot is entrusted first to the ligamentous and second to itsmuscular apparatus.

Moreover, the effectiveness of these ligaments and muscles in theircoaction with the bone structure is largely dependent on the proper seThis swinging shift of body weight quence of their use, because thesetensioning ligaments are built upin an underlying coacting relationshipwith the bone structure that produces effective mechanical advantage inthe foot arches. A study of the under surface of the foot showingcontinuations of tendons from leg muscles as shown in Toldts AnatomicalAtlas, clearly shows that the tendons from the toes overlie eachotherwith the little toe tendon on the bottom and all intertwined under theinside of the foot. The tensioning of these tendons in the sequenceinduced by the gradual shifting of the weight from'the little toe to thelarge toe produces a mechanical advantage to the foot arch that permitsthe arch to-easily and naturally resist the stresses imposed; Further,when thus used, the foot functions in the natural slightlytoed-inmanner: contrarywise, when theweight' is shifted along the insideof the foot, a toed-out gait is induced which puts unnatural stress onthe arch of the foot andmay finally result in a series of foot illsranging from bunions to broken arches.

In my improved shoe design I provide a structure which positivelyinduces the foot to function in the natural manner by mechanically hold-`ing the heel rmly upright while slidably inclining the footoutwardly tocarry the weight in the -the heel and sole design of the shoe.

in full appreciation of the important vital funcroll over the outerborder manner until it rests onthe ball of the foot. 'I'he structure foraccomplishing the above result largely resides in However,

the abby feet of the sedentary cnice-Worker*V to the hard muscled feetof the'professional ball player, all muscular tissue should 'bepositioned in the proper relationship to function in this one naturalway.' It will be appreciated that soft abby footl muscles will notassume their proper form and functionsin fact they promptly tend toassume misshapen shapes that are ill adapted to their natural function.It is my theory that regardless of muscle tone, the foot. should bemolded and held in proper form for natural co acting relationship of themuscles and bone structure. When this is done, the muscles tend toi'unctionl properly andthe ill results of misplaced muscle tissuefollowed by mislocated bone structo maintain the foot in properalignment and induce the foot to function in a normal manner.

Further objects and benefits will be disclosed in the following'description and drawings in which: f

Fig. 1 is a 'perspective view of my improved shoe last with crosssectional outlines thereon and further showing the shapes and outlinesof my formed inner sole and counter as will later be explained:

Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are elevational views of the cross sections of myimproved last at sections 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, and 5 5 respectively;

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view of my improved shoe as provided byforming over the last shown in Fig. 1, to show the relationship of myformed inner sole and counter as will further be explained; and

line 1 1 corresponding to the section 2 2. on the last of Fig. l. Itwill be observed that the shape oi the shoe at'the center of the heel isgenerally pear-shaped and closely follows the shape o! the heel of anormal foot when supporting its weight.

It will be observed that the major portion of the Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10are elevational cross sections of the shoe as they would appear von thesection lines 'I l, 8 8, 9 9 and III II) respectively.

I desire to explain and teach that the fundamentalconcept of my impro edshoe design is to provide a solid cupped sock t for the heel to iit itsnatural shape as it supports its normal weight. I form these heelsockets in my improved shoe to provide a strong solid heel support thatwill hold heel section is on the outside of the center line I2 I2 andthat the heel I5 is hollcwed out in order to accommodate my formedcounter IB and inner sole I'l in the natural pear-shape of the normalhuman heel as it supports its weight in wet sand. I desire to point outand teach that this structure Aprovides strong mechanical means to holdthe heellin its natural weight-bearing shape and is a decidedimprovement over conventional square cornered heel structures which areilladapted to resist the stresses imposed. The formed -inner sole I1supports the weight directly on the heel I3 and protects the formedcounter 'I8 from sidewise leverage movements by reinforcing the counterwell above its contact with the heel I5. This is a far better mechanicalstructure for resisting sidewise stresses than a ilat bottomed heelbecause counter I8 is well supported above its bottom contact with theheel I5 and lthus presents a much shorter leverage for sidewisestresses. It will be well understood that I form my inner sole I 1 fromheavy leather formed and stiiiened to provide a smooth curved side wallsupport for the bottom of the foot.

Now'referring to Fig. 8 it will be observed that as thegreater area ofthe cross section is again car- With the heel thus ilrmly and naturallysupported, I fasten the balance of the shoe in firm natural relationshipto the heel. It is my concept that this natural relationshipwill providefor a "rolling over the outer border of the foot action and when thefoot is permitted to function in this manner, most of thefoot ailmentsare avoided. I therefore provide shoe structure which definitely inducesthe weight to be borne in this natural manner and further providestructure to support the stresses thus induced in order to maintain theshoe in proper shape. Again, I 'reject any idea of cushioning; thestructure I provide being ilrm and strong to operate as effective`mechanical means to attain this result.

Now referring to Figs..1 to 5 inclusive, and at the outset particularlyto Fig. l; I designate the center lineof the last by the line II IIwhich is actually the center line of support, but not the geometriccenter line of the shoe. It is the line drawn from the center of therear of the heel of the last to the center of the toe of the last. Idesignate the vertical plane from the center line Il I I by the centerlines I2 I2. The various my strong inner sole structure.

ried to the outside of the center line I2 I2 of the shoe and that theinner side of the formed inner sole I1 is supported by strong leathersection I6 aflixed to the sole I4. This structure mechanically throwsthe weight to the outside of the shoe because the smooth formed innersole I1 being tilted toward the outside would naturally slide the weightto the outside where it is supported by It will be observed that theupper I9 in relation to the inner sole I'I and its support I6 isprotected against the stresses imposed on this structure by the supportof the sturdy inner sole I1 which assists the upper I9 at the pointwhere weight is applied by a naturally curved section at that point.

Now referring to Fig. 9 it will be observed that the inner sole I1 isagain carried on its inner side by supporting structure and the weightis again shifted to the outside of the foot by the natural curve formedthereby. As a detail, it will be observed that there is a slight arch atthe center line I2, which conforms to the shape of the normal footstructure.

Now referring to Fig. 10 it will be observed that at this section, theformed inner sole I'I is slightly concave to provide a relatively fiatconcaved section for the toe section of the shoe.

I again repeat and emphasize that my formed inner sole I1 is made ofstrong stiff leather of substantial thickness formed under heat andpressure to provide a strong rounded side wall support for the bottom ofthe foot and that it is mounted rmly and securely on the' sole of theshoe to provide an effective coacting member which protects the counterand upper from excessive stresses imposed by carrying the weight of thewearer on the outside of the foot. Although I have described a.preferred form of inner sole made of leather, it will be understood thatany other material such as phenolic condensation assaut a shoe last in awide variety of sizes and shapes which experience has taught will fit ahigh percentage of all human feet. The large. reputable manufacturers oflasts regularly list twenty-six sizes of`men's shoes in eleven widths.or a total almost exactly to the shape produced by a normal human footimbedded in sand and molded to the shape of the foot when carrying itsnormal weight on the outside of the foot in accordance with my 4 shoesconstructedin accordance with my theory of two hundred eighty-six sizes.The circumferential measurements of these lasts are given for the ball.waist and instep and they are given in inches and eighth inches. Forinstance, size '7,

width A-ball 8, waist' 7%, instep 8%: size'A- ball 8%. waist 8%. instep8%; size '1D-ball 8%. waist 8%, instep 9%: size iiD-ball 9. waist 8%,instep 9%.

I have found that in order to properly fit shoes having my improvedoutwardly inclined inner sole, which carries the weight of the wearer onthe outside of the foot, I must maintain the cross sectional sizes forproper nt bycompensating for the rounded bottom inner sole and sidewisepositioning ofthe foot. I therefore must add to the upper last suchareas as are removed from standard lasts by my concaved formed innersole. I do this in exact proporticnto-the displacement of the lastmaterial by adding such displacement to the upper side of the last insmoothly flowing contours. I have found that this provides the necessaryspace for the normal foot tissues when carrying weight on its outsideand further that this provision induces the foot into proper shape forfunctioning in the desired natural manner.

As an example, if one would take a standard flat bottom last and removethe bottom material to provide the rounded cradle heel and high roundedshank. in accordance with my teaching,

substantially all the material removed should be zor and teaching, dofunction in the manner described, and wearers are greatly benefited bymy improved shoe design and structure.

Having thus described my invention. I now claim aa new:

1. A shoe comprising a heel and sole structure. an insole. a counter.and an upper. said heeland sole structure and said insole providing afoot supporting surface comprising a raised untilted cupped heel portionshaped to conform to thc contour of the heel oi' a normal foot and`having substantially uniformly curved side and rear portions with the'curvature at the outside of the shoe from a point within and near thefront end of said heel portion gradually lowering toward. in and throughthe shank portion at a greater slope than the curvature at the inside'of the shoe to provide an outwardly tilting surface with curved sides atthe front of said heel portion and in said shank portion, said curvedsides then gradually diminishing in curvature and gradually leveling toprovide a substantially atuntilted surface at vature at the sidescontinuing forwardly and gradually lowering'from a point within and nearthe front en'd of the heel surface toward. in and through the shankportion with the curvature at the outside of the last lowering at agreater slope than at the inside to provide an outwardly tilting surfacewith curved sides in the front part of said heel surface and in saidshank portion, said curved sides then gradually diminishing in curvatureand gradually leveling relative to each other to proyide a substantiallynat untilted surface at the ball portion of the last, said last with itscurved sides being shaped to conform to and having sufficientcross-sectional area throughout its length to fit the contour of anormal foot.

v RICHARD E. FREEMAN.

